Author: Terra Firma Tackle

Species Profile: Sevengill Shark (Notorynchus cepedianus)

The Sevengill
Shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) is one of the largest and most sought after
sharks in Southern California. They belong to a very small family of sharks
with only a few surviving species alive today. Long lived and slow growing
these fish are not numerous and as a result can be a challenge to locate and
catch, making them all the much more prized as gamefish. Easily distinguished by
its lack of dorsal fin and anguilliform body, these large sharks are spirited
fighters and grow to nearly ten feet in length. Their mouths are adorned with a
plethora of comb shaped cutting teeth allowing them to feed on nearly anything
they encounter! They are flexible and acrobatic and are even capable of biting
their own tails when attempting to free themselves from capture.

Nicknames :

Giller,
Cow Shark, Sandbag, Broadnose Sevengill, Seven

How To Catch Sevengills:

Most
sevengills are caught by surf fishermen, usually on chunks of finbait on
casting tackle. However, some of the larger specimens are known to consume bat
rays and other smaller sharks so these are all worth considering as bait,
especially when doing kayak dropped presentations. Sevengill are known to bite
tentatively for their size, with most bites starting as mere “nibbles” before
the fish finishes eating the bait and runs off.

Sevengills,
while large, are not the most powerful fighters when compared to other shark
species. The fight is best described as large head shakes, jumps and a few
runs, but not at all like most other pelagic sharks. For this reason smaller
tackle is usable and all but the largest of sevengills will be quickly subdued
on any tackle of the 40lb class and above. Most anglers opt for a braided line
such as Bullbuster Braid (https://bullbuster.net/braided...)
with a long “rub leader” or shock leader of monofilament. This shock leader is
important as a result of the Sevengill’s tendency to roll in the fishing line. Usually
10-12 feet of heavy mono such as Bullbuster Leader Material (https://bullbuster.net/grander...)
is used as a rub leader to make sure the angler lands their quarry.

From
the surf rigs like the Loop Rig, Pulley Rig, or even the basic Carolina/Fishfinder
rig are all good options. These rigs should be made with wire or cable to
prevent the large comb shaped teeth of the shark from cutting through the rig
and getting away. Unlike smaller sharks more cable than usual should be used
since these sharks can and will bite their own tails, if too little cable is
used the main line or rub leader may find its way into the sharks mouth
resulting in a lost fish. When it comes to a fish as hard to find as a
sevengill, losing one is heartbreaking!

Where To Find Sevengill Sharks:

Sevengills
can be found all along the Southern California coast, but San Diego and North
Los Angeles County both seem to have the highest concentrations of these prehistoric
critters. When seeking locations to target these fish, search for areas with
rocks and kelp close to the shoreline, as these structure filled areas will
produce more fish than the typical barren sand beaches.

When To Target Sevengills

Spring
time is the best bet when searching for sevengills. These sharks often pack up
for breeding purposes and at times they may swarm a beach for several days
making for some epic fishing opportunities! Capitalize on this when possible,
as these fish can be absent for the majority of the year!

Thanks for reading! For more information and rigs for
targeting these fish please check out our own website at TerraFirmaTackle.com!

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